how to win the lottery: a book club podcast

sara levine interview (author of treasure island!!!, the hitch)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

we talk to sara levine, author of treasure island!!! and the hitch, about pets, siblings, and her favorite notebooks. after joey promises her 100 compliments, shreds tells her about the 100% hit rate on recommending her novels to friends. sara talks about haters on goodreads and “hammock reviews”, what she learned from adam levin about parrots, and subverting the expectations of chick lit. we tell her about her mythology on the podcast. we ask about the cover art of her novels, how she approaches different class situations for her protagonists (or: if she does), and whether she ever lived by the mottos “steer the boat, girlfriend” or “be the alpha.” we talk about her ability to invert expectations and play with genre a bit and then share a series of questions from meg. sara mentions another author she recommends we read, discusses the ups and downs of publishing short stories in smaller publications, and her affinity for robert louis stevenson. (here’s the playlist for treasure island!!! that she created for largehearted boy.)

reading list for season eighteen

short dark oracles by sara levine
treasure island!!! by sara levine
the hitch by sara levine

the hitch by sara levine

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

our final book in the sara levine module is the hitch, which is notable as it’s a new release (and one of the fastest publication-to-episode timelines we’ve done) and, more importantly, another perfect novel. we compare it to treasure island!!! (and how this is a counter-arc to that), discuss the story of the “fun aunt” thrown into the deep end (by choice), and sara levine’s ability to craft good knock knock jokes (and why almost all art about comedy is a bit rough). is the secret to happiness going to mcdonald’s? shreds talks about the sitcom sensibilities in this novel that allow for levity in a really dark situation, how the novel’s “small book aesthetics” leave us craving more (in a good way), and how the hitch executes on his favorite trope in storytelling. we admire the cover and praise levine for dismissing drama in favor of more interesting drama. joey pitches a new challenge/idea to shreds.

reading list for season eighteen

short dark oracles by sara levine
treasure island!!! by sara levine
the hitch by sara levine

treasure island!!! by sara levine

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

it’s time to talk about one of our favorite books, treasure island!!! by sara levine, and a plea to you, listener: go read this one. after shreds accidentally previews our next module, we ask: which most defines us? boldness, resolution, independence, or horn-blowing. we talk about how treasure island!!! serves as the best kind of palate cleanser, why we relate to messy and narcissistic 25-year-old female protagonists, and whether or not a pet library is a good business model. we share our favorite moments in the book, compare the novel’s tone to how sitcoms get away with darkness, and praise sara levine and her unique descriptions. joey mentions the almost unspoken (deep, deep) sadness of the text. shreds talks about how easy this novel would be to adapt, with so many actresses who could fit hte bill. egg writes in to compare this to the original treasure island. steer the boat, girlfriend!

reading list for season eighteen

short dark oracles by sara levine
treasure island!!! by sara levine
the hitch by sara levine

short dark oracles by sara levine

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

our sara levine module kicks off with her short story collection, short dark oracles. after comparing ourselves to other media with animals making noise in the background, we talk about our favorite stories from the collection, the value in a successful short story (as well as how the arc of a short story has changed over the years), and our favorite lines (mostly: the ones that made us laugh out loud). shreds talks about a shirt that makes him sick. we talk about a dog with a chapbook, a kinship between sara levine and lisa hanawalt, and how we wish we had even more writing of levine’s to look forward to. (this prompts shreds to talk about tao lin’s “10 more novels” idea.) a youtube comment inspires us to discuss books and movies we immediately started again after finishing. we heap more praise on matt johnson and nirvanna the band the show the movie.

reading list for season eighteen

short dark oracles by sara levine
treasure island!!! by sara levine
the hitch by sara levine

season eighteen theme and reading list

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

it’s time for another season of the podcast, but before we head to another state module, we’re reading the work of sara levine. it’s our third author-focused module. we talk about the pre-podcast lore (and the role of treasure island!!!) and the qualifications of being invited onto our show (or being selected for this type of focus). shreds recounts another time he was embarrassed in class.

reading list for season eighteen

short dark oracles by sara levine
treasure island!!! by sara levine
the hitch by sara levine

from hell by alan moore

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0000

we’re wrapping up our 1990s module with from hell by alan moore, more 1999 facts, and an answer to the question: how old are we, really? after talking about why this book is invalid for this module, we check in with shreds about his self-imposed homework. we then talk about what we admire in from hell (and what frustrates joey, which shreds says is by design), while shreds heaps praise on alan moore (and defends him against goodreads reviews). we compare from hell to watchmen and explore alan moore’s interest in time as a construct. we compare the second appendix to understanding comics, admire eddie campbell’s art, and talk about the feng shui of towns. plus: the supernatural (?) ending, the masonic inclusions, and all things gull. we self-mythologize — somebody’s gotta do what we’re doing! — we plan out potential future modules, and we wonder: when do people find us? also: could this be adapted in a better way, unlike the johnny depp movie?

reading list for season seventeen

vineland by thomas pynchon
mao ii by don delillo
all the pretty horses by cormac mccarthy
trainspotting by irvine welsh
notes of a crocodile by qiu miaojin
sabbath’s theater by philip roth
the atlas by william t. vollmann
i love dick by chris kraus
the poisonwood bible by barbara kingsolver
from hell by alan moore

the poisonwood bible by barbara kingsolver

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

our 1990s module continues with the poisonwood bible by barbara kingsolver, whose backstory informs her writing in a unique way. after joey shares some 1998 facts (which shows how timely this novel is), we talk about the historical context within the text, as well as the way it depicts universal societal/cultural upheaval. we discuss the timing of ruth may’s death in this text (vs. a more “traditional” story), the beauty in never hearing nathan’s perspective, and the idea of knowing a thing before you know it (or living temporarily in a state of blissful ignorance). we talk about a section that harkens back to the atlas (but isn’t as effective) and the assumption that books in translation have the “correct” meaning. egg writes in about guilt and theology, and we talk about education and reclaiming our humanity.

reading list for season seventeen

i love dick by chris kraus

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

our 1990s season continues with i love dick by chris kraus and a slew of 1997 facts, including lots of titanic talk. the big question, right off the bat: how did they make this a tv series? (shreds plans to investigate.) we discuss the text’s format and two (very different) halves, the reference to kathy acker, and the inherent sadness and embarrassment in this novel and in sylvere leaving her. we attempt to refilter chris’s obsession through a modern lens, and we also try to contextualize the feminism of the text. what is chris kraus’s impression of this world? it’s unclear, which we struggle with. we hear from the egg and read youtube comments we missed.

reading list for season seventeen

the atlas by william t. vollmann

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

we’ve entered 1996 with the atlas by william t. vollmann, which has laid a curse upon our podcast. after an unprecedented preview of an upcoming module, we discuss vollmann’s various writing styles he uses throughout the text (and what they do). joey shares some 1996 facts, including a quick look back at video games that blew our minds. we talk about vollmann acting as a journalist (but also intervening), the meaning of the only thing that vollmann ever footnotes throughout the text, and how the atlas is a book that makes you feel like you’ve never lived live… and maybe that’s okay. mosquitoes: aaaah! we explore the ambitious structure of the text (and how it doesn’t necessarily land without re-reading) and how vollmann parallels western constructs to the reality of the rest of the world.

reading list for season seventeen

sabbath's theater by philip roth

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

the 1990s keeps on truckin’ as we advance into 1995 for sabbath’s theater by philip roth. after talking about patricia lockwood’s new book (will there ever be another you), joey shares some 1995 facts, including some pride for our new jersey devils. then, we talk about how sabbath’s theater fully sticks the landing (with an all-time great final line, not to mention a great opening line), how the text is reminiscent of charlie kaufman, and why no one writes like philip roth anymore. shreds discusses the end goals of the misogyny in roth’s novels. we talk about the way roth writes about new jersey, the emotional weight of the pivot to mickey’s brother dying in world war ii, the distinct difference between horny books written by men and ones written by women, and how roth reflects masculinity in sabbath’s theater. shreds breaks down the common comparison between roth and woody allen. joey talks about the audiobook, narrated by john turturro. we read a couple of emails from the egg.

reading list for season seventeen

notes of a crocodile by qiu miaojin

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

we’re talking about notes of a crocodile by qiu miaojin. first, though: 1994 facts and talk of the car that shreds will never buy. we discuss qiu miaojin’s tragic end (and how it pops up a lot among our authors) and the equally dark inspiration for this novel (which still winds up being not a total downer). shreds compares notes of a crocodile‘s tonal ties to no longer human and colorless tsukuru tazaki. joey shares big updates in his life since our last episode. we discuss the cultural legacy of crocodile and how qiu miaojin is able to capture the emotional heights of young love. we take a brief interlude for a quick review of paul thomas anderson’s one battle after another and to discuss what he and pynchon do well that the other does not. we get another email about the patreon and we hear from the egg, who likens this text to those by two other female authors. in an unprecedented move, we announce our next big module way early.

reading list for season seventeen

trainspotting by irvine welsh

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

we enter into 1993 with trainspotting by irvine welsh, which released on january 1. (whew, we just snuck in there!) after shreds fails to surface any 1993 facts, joey saves the day. we talk about a 90s novel set in the 90s, explore the irvine welsh shared universe, and discuss the dialectal writing in the text as well as the line that welsh straddles. we talk about how to describe the novel (in terms of it being a novel about masculinity, colonialism, heroin, and hiv) and how masculinity in 90s literature was defined by three writers (bret easton ellis, irvine welsh, and chuck palahniuk). we also make sure to talk about the humor (and how fresh this writing sounded upon release) before briefly discussing the adaptation (and what it changes/omits). shreds recounts an embarrassing moment from a film class.

reading list for season seventeen

all the pretty horses by cormac mccarthy

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

our 1990s module continues with all the pretty horses by cormac mccarthy, marking a rapid return to his writing after covering blood meridian earlier this year. after discussing whether we could have approached “the border trilogy” in another way, we discuss 1992 facts (wherein shreds makes a generous offer) and talk about mccarthy’s assumption that you understand a fair amount of spanish to read his work. we talk about the minimal plot found in all the pretty horses, how this book serves as both an antidote to blood meridian and a possible return to religion for mccarthy, and the focus on morality in this text. we also talk about the “offscreen” violence (and reading with a fear of blood meridian-esque violence), whether we could do a module of books set in the 1990s (rather than published then), and the hallmarks of the western genre. we also talk about the issues with billy bob thornton’s film adaptation (though it’s likely not his fault).

reading list for season seventeen

mao ii by don delillo

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

we’ve progressed into 1991 to talk about mao ii by don delillo, and joey has finally done his due diligence and brought some 90s facts. we start things off by talking about whether or not it’s important to have historical context for the events covered in the text, how dull (complimentary) and realistic delillo’s writing is, and the death of the novelist as a cultural touchstone/celebrity. we talk about art in delillo’s books as an avenue of compulsion for its creators, how nice it is to return to an author you love, and whether the andy warhol-inspired title is fitting for the text. egg writes in a short email. we talk about the cult psychology of fandom, learning “how” to read delillo (or any author), and the first three episodes of alien: earth.

reading list for season seventeen

vineland by thomas pynchon

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our 1990s module kicks off with vineland by thomas pynchon and an existential dilemma: are we starting off this module with a lie? after talking about getting our hands on media before its release date, we detour to discuss radiohead’s live “hail to the thief” album, which shreds expertly weaves right into the novel description via paul thomas anderson’s upcoming “loose adaptation” of vineland. joey shares his pov coming into this (and how it failed him); we talk about the misdirection of vineland not really being a novel about zoyd and discuss who the main character really is. we talk about the novel being structurally strange, pynchon’s exploration of 60s counter-culture (and the yippie to yuppie pipeline), and the amount of time he’s taken to publish his work. we critique the things that pynchon doesn’t do very well and admire him for what he does. shreds gives tips on reading a book where you get lost within the plot. we ask: please, write in about this book. also: happy halloween.

reading list for season seventeen

season seventeen theme and reading list

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

it’s time to unveil our next full-length module, which comes as a surprise to joey, too: we’re heading back to the 1990s. after shreds reveils the ungodly length of the original form of this module, we discuss how the form of this module is yet another one that we could cycle through. shreds announces the titles while confirming what we all know: we needed a win. we share a warning that we may pause to read new books! shreds avers that he is settling some personal business with these titles. joey realizes he gets to do 90s facts.

reading list for season seventeen

vineland by thomas pynchon

mao ii by don delillo

all the pretty horses by cormac mccarthy

trainspotting by irvine welsh

notes of a crocodile by qiu miaojin

sabbath’s theater by philip roth

the atlas by william t. vollmann

i love dick by chris kraus

the poisonwood bible by barbara kingsolver

from hell by alan moore

the demon by hubert selby, jr.

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

the second book in our second great american novel module is the demon by hubert selby, jr. does it pair well with the sound and the fury? that’s what we’re discussing. first, though, we check in with shreds to see if this is the novel that he remembered reading, what his history with it is, and what it inspired him to want to do. we talk about the book’s punctuation and hubert selby jr.’s sort of unorthodox path to a writing career. we explore the novel’s escalation, our feeling of “how bad can it get?”, and how inevitable the plot feels (as well as how it manages to refrain from ever being boring). we dunk on harry for his pedestrian pickup lines, discuss the other works that came to mind while reading this book, and explore the metaphors that worked (and the ones that don’t) in the text. joey shows shreds the insane original cover art.

reading list for season sixteen

the sound and the fury by william faulkner
the demon by hubert selby, jr.

the sound and the fury by william faulkner

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our second great american novel module kicks off with the sound and the fury by william faulkner. joey explains his difficulties with parsing the text and how he approached it, while shreds talks about the character he identifies with. we explore a time when authors were less afraid to reckon with big ideas — as well as the authors still doing it now. we also ask, with regards to the text’s experimental prose: is faulkner better the more difficult his work gets? we explore the connected faulkner universe and look ahead to connections with hubert selby jr.’s the demon (our next book). shreds talks a bit about the faulkner-penned (though still factually inaccurate) appendix. joey digs up some patreon-exclusive features to apply to this text, which then leads to an offer to you, the listener. we discuss being alone in either appreciating (or not appreciating) art that no one else (or everyone else) seems to appreciate.

reading list for season sixteen

the sound and the fury by william faulkner
the demon by hubert selby, jr.

season sixteen theme and reading list

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

we’re back to find out what will be in store in our next great american novel module. also, we wonder: could we run out? does shreds enjoy reading? after a refresher on how this works (and teasing future great american novel modules), we discuss whether or not this is what the podcast “should” be, and if these mini-modules are the purest version of what we do. then, we roll the die, which yields another intense module.

reading list for season sixteen

the sound and the fury by william faulkner

the demon by hubert selby, jr.

danielle chelosky interview (author of cheat, show me your face, pregaming grief, baby bruise, female loneliness epidemic)

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

after covering her work for the past several episodes, we talked to danielle chelosky. we asked about fiction vs. nonfiction (specifically with regard to the right way to read her work), nonfiction being treated by reviewers as gossip, and how danielle attempts to capture the feeling of specific moments without seeming cringe. she talks about how she chooses which form her writing will take, her thoughts on mixed media, her finsta (and how it helps her catalog digital memorabilia), and writing as a persona.

she teases a written but unreleased sequel to pregaming grief and how writing serves as a way to help her keep up with her memories. we talk about covid as an aesthetic backdrop, danielle’s pivot to other points of view in female loneliness epidemic, and the french literature she is most interested in. where’s her kaiju novel? is danielle emo? is cheat a prequel to pregaming grief? we ask.

reading list for season fifteen

cheat and show me your face by danielle chelosky
pregaming grief by danielle chelosky
baby bruise and female loneliness epidemic by danielle chelosky

baby bruise and female loneliness epidemic by danielle chelosky

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

it’s another double dip of danielle chelosky’s writing this episode, as we cover baby bruise and female loneliness epidemic.

after lamenting what twitter has become (and what we lost), we talk about the title of chelosky’s short story collection, how frank o’hara’s meditations in an emergency relates to the work, and how we continue to approach her work as though it’s not auto-fiction. we talk about the evolution of stories written about young people, the vivid first lines in female loneliness epidemic, and the benefits of telling technology-agnostic stories. we explore the evolution of chelosky’s writing from cheat through “terror,” and we pivot to discussing baby bruise by discussing how her short-form writing compares to her longer-form stuff.

in discussing baby bruise, we talk about teen girl music tastes and the relatability of the musical taste elements in the text, whether the character of dave is very sad or high comedy (or both), and how the book never gets as dark as you imagine it might.

reading list for season fifteen

cheat and show me your face by danielle chelosky
pregaming grief by danielle chelosky
baby bruise and female loneliness epidemic by danielle chelosky

pregaming grief by danielle chelosky

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our danielle chelosky module continues with pregaming grief, her first published piece of long-form writing. we talk about its ties to cheat, whether it could (canonically) be in the gossip girl universe, and how auto-fiction relates to this novel, her work as a whole, and the wider literature. we explore pregaming grief as a covid-era novel, albeit not a book about the disease itself, as well as how this informs the plot. chelosky’s description of older lovers hit a bit too close to home for us. we talk about her ability to write characters without condemning them (but in a way the reader likely will), her ability to write about a difficult state of mind, and the (limited) use of technology in this novel. shreds praise the very sudden ending. what’s blake middleton been up to? we wonder.

reading list for season fifteen

cheat and show me your face by danielle chelosky
pregaming grief by danielle chelosky
baby bruise and female loneliness epidemic by danielle chelosky

cheat and show me your face by danielle chelosky

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our danielle chelosky module kicks off with a pair of chapbooks that she self-published: cheat and show me your face. (it’s our first-ever “two books in one podcast” episode, and we do our best to keep ’em separated.) we talk about how both titles are very sexual and sexualized, but almost devoid of joy and not at all sexy, by design. we explore the similar content told in two very different styles/formats (plus the mixed media found in show me your face), how one text is technology-agnostic (while the other much more “of the time”), and how people of a certain generation learned to write through sites like livejournal and xanga. we talk about putting a version of you (that isn’t really you) online and how elements learned in show me your face make cheat more sad in retrospect. egg writes in to share similar (yet totally opposite) experiences. we imagine how inspiring and empowering it must have been to be a young writer in nyc around 2012. what would happen if chelosky added a kaiju to this narrative? we discuss.

reading list for season fifteen

cheat and show me your face by danielle chelosky
pregaming grief by danielle chelosky
baby bruise and female loneliness epidemic by danielle chelosky

season fifteen theme and reading list

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

we’ve done it. we’ve closed the big account, ghostbusters-style, and landed another author focus module. this time, we’re talking about the work of danielle chelosky. we discuss other authors whom we’ve spoken with who have praised her work and what we believe we can expect from her work. shreds describes how we will put together questions for her to answer.

reading list for season fifteen

cheat and show me your face by danielle chelosky
pregaming grief by danielle chelosky
baby bruise by danielle chelosky

ohio by stephen markley

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

we’re closing out our ohio module with ohio by stephen markley, who honored us by naming this book after our module. we talk about the impact of the title and writing about where you’re from, how the deluge serves as somewhat of a retroactive pre-read for this book, and how markley is one of the best social realist authors of our time. we talk about what the end suggests and why it “must” end this way, as well as markley’s ability to create characters (especially ones who are morally unclear), whether this text could exist about its flashbacks, and the different segments reading as different forms of genre fiction. shreds breaks down the maurice claurett reference, joey shares some final ohio facts, and we get a new author pitch via email. we look back at the ohio module that was.

reading list for season fourteen

the bluest eye by toni morrison

omensetter’s luck by william gass

outside in by doug cooper

ohio by stephen markley

outside in by doug cooper

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our ohio module continues with outside in by doug cooper and some “ohio facts” (island facts?) about the town of put-in-bay. after learning about island culture in ohio — we want to go so bad — we talk about an inciting incident that the novel does not reflect on at all, how shep shows no signs of darkness at all (and no flaws), and our issues with dialogue and the female characters in the novel. we explore the q&a found at the end of the text, as well as the noticeable lack of editors. is “the name game” really transgressive? shreds talks about what this novel has in common with 1980s comedies, then makes a twin peaks connection. we compare outside in to bret easton ellis’s less than zero, and we look at doug cooper’s other novels. producer meg “the egg” writes in a damning email.

reading list for season fourteen

the bluest eye by toni morrison

omensetter’s luck by william gass

outside in by doug cooper

ohio by stephen markley

omensetter's luck by william gass

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our ohio module keeps on truckin’ with both a pop quiz about the state and a discussion of omensetter’s luck by william gass. we talk about the difficulty in reading the novel (and how the first two sections sort of fake you out a bit), what william gass is “doing” in this text, and why regional writing tends to be set back in time. shreds explains why the novel made him feel unbearably sad and hopeless — and how surprised he was by the way gass’s life turned out. we discuss the afterward (and whether or not it’s true) and how william gass (among others, including authors we have already read like john barth) pushed the postmodern genre forward. we talk about casting an adaptation and create an ambitious new module idea, because why would we ever want to do anything the easy way?

reading list for season fourteen

the bluest eye by toni morrison
omensetter’s luck by william gass
outside in by doug cooper
ohio by stephen markley

the bluest eye by toni morrison

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our ohio module kicks off with a known quantity: the undeniably great debut novel from toni morrison, the bluest eye. after briefly reflecting on the states so far, we talk about famous people from ohio as well as whether the bluest eye feels specific to ohio. we talk about its thematic ties to ryan coogler’s sinners, as well as the text’s generational trauma and its characters who can afford to be nice. why isn’t joey bothered when his least favorite trope in movie-making pops up in books? we discuss. we admire toni morrison’s mastery of dialogue — especially kid dialogue, as well as kid behavior. we talk about her writing this novel from the perspective of an editor and the merits of introducing great literature to high school students (even if it’s lost on them). egg writes in a great email.

reading list for season fourteen

the bluest eye by toni morrison

omensetter’s luck by william gass

outside in by doug cooper

ohio by stephen markley

season fourteen theme and reading list

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

it’s time for another card drawing on lottery pod, and even though we don’t say it in this episode: suck shit, sufjan stevens. after we struggle to remember which states we’ve already covered, we make picks and predictions for both the states that we’re most excited about and the states we think will come up in the drawing. (spoiler: shreds is almost right.) we figure out what we’re reading. shreds recaps fantasy baseball news from eight months ago. (note: after recording this episode, we decided to swap in the bluest eye by toni morrison for beloved.)

reading list for season fourteen

the bluest eye by toni morrison

omensetter’s luck by william gass

outside in by doug cooper

ohio by stephen markley

open water by caleb azumah nelson

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

we’re closing out our second-person module with one of our strongest books yet: open water by caleb azumah nelson. after talking about the pitt (and the mount rushmore of tv), we talk about the lack of irony in open water and the way its naturalistic style makes you forget it’s written in second-person. we talk about the way nelson writes about media (and how it feels like a barry jenkins movie), how good he is at describing music, and the good lineage of books with “water” in the title. we ask: what would this be like if it was set in the u.s.? we admire the amazing circumstance of the main characters’ meeting, how glad we are at what this book did NOT become, and the shortcut nelson uses to existing art (and the intertextuality it has with other modern media). would this make a good movie? we reflect back on the mixed bag of a module.

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

a man asleep by georges perec

Thu, 22 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our penultimate book in the “you” module is a man asleep by georges perec, which is a return to form as it’s once again french as hell. we talk about how it compares to suicide by édouard levé and the malady of death by marguerite duras, as well as the refreshing nature of variation in the module. shreds talks about the other short story in the collection (things) and the act of lucid dreaming. we discuss perec describing the act of playing solitaire, whether the end is a call to action (or defeatist), and life as a street performer. shreds talks about bosho’s hakus (and how different “english haikus” are), and then he predicts the title of elif batuman’s next novel.

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

the night circus by erin morgenstern

Thu, 08 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our “you” module is winding down, so it feels like the perfect time to cover a book that shouldn’t be in the module at all: the night circus by erin morgenstern. first, though, we talk about the film magazine dreams (with heavy spoilers): what makes it a mess, what went wrong, and how shreds would have ended the movie.

then, we pivot to the night circus to discuss our issues with the text on its own and for the module. shreds explains how it made its way into the module in the first place. joey talks about the biggest issue in writing about illusionists. we both agree on how the second-person could have worked. we talk about how the text is humorless, sexless, and themeless, as well as the recipe of three things that add up to a thing that shreds hates. joey explains how it’s like the hunger games (and every other “baby’s first uprising” book). shreds has an issue with time. egg writes in to talk about the book’s assumption that you just deeply “know” tarot.

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

the diver's clothes lie empty by vendela vida

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

shreds continues to physically fall apart on our latest episode as we talk about the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida. joey rejoices as we finally hit a book this module that he loves, and we wonder if there’s a module we can built around the central element in this novel that he loves. we talk about how young and modern this novel feels, its connection to the last book we covered, and how it may be reminiscent of another book we covered a long time ago.

we empathize with the specific types of frustration and dislocation in this book, debate whether the main character grows or evolves, and share who we pictured as the actress. we identify the point at which shreds no longer loves the book, take a detour and forget how we got there, and heap praise on beth morgan.

could shreds find books for joey to read he hates more than giles goat-boy?

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

how like a god by rex stout

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

our episode about how like a god by rex stout starts with joey immediately killing one of shreds’ bits, setting a vibe. after talking about dave “storyteller” grohl, we talk a lot about shakespeare (including whether hamlet is required reading) before shreds gives this podcast our “ian mckellen on wtf” moment. we talk about how this feels like a philip roth novel, the dislikeable protagonist (amplified by the second-person perspective), and the text’s long stretches where it’s not quite clear what’s happening. we also cover the unnecessary intercutting, feminist and freudian readings of the text, and whether or not this could be adapted into a satisfying film. we recommend other crime books to read instead.

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

the malady of death by marguerite duras

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

the malady of death by marguerite duras is likely the shortest text we’ve covered on the main feed so far. like suicide last week, it’s also european as all hell. after celebrating the 100th book covered on our show, which we missed, we pivot into the malady of death. horny module alert! we explore the mystery behind this book’s publication, try to determine how much wine could we drink, and express our love for the craziest final four pages. we ask: does everyone picture themselves as the protagonist? we talk about how the second-person twist is captured in this text. shreds wonders if he could make up a banger of a phrase like “the malady of death.”

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

suicide by édouard levé

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

the next book in our second-person module is suicide by édouard levé, which kicks off a mini-module of shorter writing that is also european as hell. after discussing a gem of a film we discovered on the criterion channel, we talk about suicide‘s up-ending afterward and the manipulation found within the text. we discuss suicide as the defining moment in anyone’s life who dies that way and why it’s hard to reflect on what happens within the book. we explore how (and why) first-person is found more in this book than in our other books this module, the wildly different alt cover, and how the extensive poetry that ends the text reads in french. we talk about wanting to learn more about translators and the act of translation. egg does a great job of articulating thoughts about this text.

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

welcome back to the penn badgley module. today’s episode is the most “normal” book we’ve read in a while: bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney. we talk about the novel’s deadpan humor, whether it feels tied to the 1980s, and how the main character ends the book while still sort of spiraling. we explore the current irony of a plot about fact-checking and computers making life easier, the arc to cocaine as a drug in the united states, and a time where t.g.i. friday’s was a cool place to hang out. we wonder if there’s a jay mcinerney connected universe and we revisit shreds’s shared bennington literary universe. we discuss how the second-person perspective villainizes amanda, the amount that bret easton ellis seems to take from this writing, and the weird miscasting in the film adaptation. shreds champions a specific element of kevin smith’s movies.

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

if on a winter's night a traveler by italo calvino

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

our next second-person novel is if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino, which features an all-time great first chapter. before we talk about the novel, though, we simply must talk about the season 5 trailer for “you.” we then talk about incarnations of the text’s “gimmick” in other mediums, whether this is a “horny book for dudes,” and how long a postmodern text can exist before its schtick becomes tiring. we lament a second person element lost in the english language, talk about the text’s charlie kaufman-esque elements, and admire its prescience around generative ai. shreds talks about the oulipo gathering. we ask: what do you want in a bookstore? rip david lynch.

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

season thirteen theme and reading list

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

it’s time for another season of lottery pod, and today’s theme reveal is news to everyone, including joey. (well, not everyone. shreds knows. he made it.) we discuss the theme as structure (rather than content), the inspiration for this theme, and the only book most people know that fit this theme. we talk about our goal of aiming for something less depressing, shreds teases modules that he created but abandoned, and we wonder if this module annoy us. we discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of writing in this style.

reading list for season thirteen

interior chinatown by charles yu

if on a winter’s night a traveler by italo calvino

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

suicide by édouard levé

the malady of death by marguerite duras

how like a god by rex stout

the diver’s clothes lie empty by vendela vida

the night circus by erin morgenstern

a man asleep by georges perec

open water by caleb azumah nelson

blake butler interview (author of 300,000,000, aannex, void corporation, uxa.gov)

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

after covering four of his novels — 300,000,000, aannex, void corporation, and uxa.gov — we talk to blake butler about his work. note: there are spoilers in this conversation (at least as much as you can spoil blake’s work.) we ask him about what he focuses on when he reads, his double book launch, and whether his nonfiction writing helps inform his fiction writing. we learn how miles davis inspired his editing process, the benefits of setting things in the distant future, and how much he thinks about the design on the page while writing. we explore adapting his text to other mediums (and channeling other mediums through the novel as an art form), how he aims to make his readers feel yucky, and how much he shares about his in-progress writing with other writers. blake talks about how he tries to capture america in his writing. we ask a new question in our author-driven module. we pick up some more stone cold nba locks. blake talks about all-you-can-eat buffets.

reading list for season twelve

300,000,000 by blake butler

aannex by blake butler

void corporation by blake butler

uxa.gov by blake butler

uxa.gov by blake butler

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

the final book in our blake butler module is uxa.gov, which may be his hardest-to-understand book we’ve covered. we talk about why we thought it would be more approachable, as well as why we should know better by now. we discuss the premise and whether it feels or reads like a film being described, the importance of font choice in the printing, and the value of the violence that blake creates in his books. we try to figure out if “chain smoking” four of blake’s books in a row the right way to read them as we also reflect on the books we covered this module. we tear down the business of star ratings. shreds explores whether reactions to body horror are universal. (stay tuned for our next episode, releasing in one week, where we talk to blake butler about all four of the novels we read this module.)

reading list for season twelve

300,000,000 by blake butler

aannex by blake butler

void corporation by blake butler

uxa.gov by blake butler

void corporation by blake butler

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0000

our blake butler module continues with a slight swerve and schedule pivot as we discuss void corporation (formerly titled alice knott). we talk about the text’s new foreword from blake, the approachability of this novel (especially in comparison to his other work), and the benefits of having read more of blake’s other novels to compare to this text. we discuss the way this novel portrays the media, the idea of things not being there (or of being removed), and the many associations tied to the name alice. like blake, we take down the golden age of tv. we ask: what does art mean? joey busts out a barcode scanner. egg and shreds talk about being physically moved by art. we wonder: does this book encourage bad behavior at museums? (our module concludes next episode with uxa.gov, followed by an interview with blake butler after that.)

reading list for season twelve

300,000,000 by blake butler

aannex by blake butler

void corporation by blake butler

uxa.gov by blake butler

aannex by blake butler

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0000

our blake butler module continues with aannex, which apocalypse party describes as “a post-joycean neo-slipstream sci-fi cult dream encyclopedia composed as algorithmic code compiled in-soul.” we talk about how we viewed the novel while reading it, and we unpack what “difficult” means with regards to this specific text. shreds poses some questions: “what would happen if i skipped 10 pages? what if i started in the middle?” we talk about mike corrao’s design (and how it’s akin to driving in traffic), the found footage-y feeling of the text and how the narrative creates false digital worlds. we explore the way blake manipulates language, ask if the text supposed to be unlocked, and connect/relate aannex to 300,000,000. what would stephen king think of this novel? who’s the real monster: dr. frankenstein or the creature? we hear stories from our old pal neve about sailing around the world and encountering whales.

reading list for season twelve

300,000,000 by blake butler

aannex by blake butler

uxa.gov by blake butler

void corporation by blake butler

300,000,000 by blake butler

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0000

we’re kicking off our blake butler module with 300,000,000: a novel that proves there’s still room to push the medium forward. we discuss whether or not this novel qualifies as horror (especially considering the queasy nature of its violence, how much of the text should be taken as literal (and how much of the unconscious is literal), and the text’s embodiment of a meme (in the literal sense). we talk about language being used to wash over us in a way that isn’t representative of what’s real or unreal in the text and whether we understand this book (and whether or not that matters). shreds rails against bad and lazy reviews. joey may have accidentally read this book in the way that blake intended. the egg has an interesting read of the narrative. joey confesses that shreds has likely broken and re-shaped him into a new type of reader.

reading list for season twelve

300,000,000 by blake butler

aannex by blake butler

uxa.gov by blake butler

void corporation by blake butler

season twelve theme and reading list

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0000

we’re dropping another surprise module on you (and on us) with a new format: a deep dive into the work of blake butler. we talk about how the module came about, why shreds has been intimidated by blake’s writing, and the idea of knowing “about” blake before reading his work. we discuss a throwback to an earlier time of creating successful and challenging art as well as why blake feels like the “right” author to do this type of module with.

reading list for season twelve

300,000,000 by blake butler

aannex by blake butler

uxa.gov by blake butler

void corporation by blake butler

moby dick by herman melville

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0000

the time has come for us to cover our first great american novel, moby dick by herman melville, which by definition makes it our greatest american novel yet. we talk about the insanity of ahab’s quest, the common misunderstanding of who the protagonist is, and who’s hanging dong aboard the pequod. we wonder if other novels provide a more apt companion to this than blood meridian as well as whether or not this should be considered a comedy or satire. we talk about who should adapt this and the movies this novel most feels like. we explore outdated whale facts, the whale as god, and moby dick‘s ties to the x-files and its impact on common vernacular. we connect this book to both jaws and the raw shark texts. we talk about gay language in the text (and how much of this was intentional at the time). we land on a verdict: is moby dick a great american novel?

reading list for season eleven

moby dick by herman melville

blood meridian by cormac mccarthy

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0000

we wrap up our eco module (perhaps our most depressing module yet?) with drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk. we talk about the novel’s unreliable narrator, who is revealed as such in a potentially frustrating way… except it doesn’t frustrate us. shreds talks about writing for writers vs. writing for readers, and the trick tokarczuk plays to potentially frustrate both sides of that divide. we try to make our way through a general lack of knkowledge around astrology and william blake, and we talk about language, translation, and names. shreds tells a strange story about a bird and a box. joey talks about having read the book before and forgetting the ending. we wrap up our eco module with a look back.

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

stephen markley interview (author of the deluge)

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

we covered stephen markley’s novel the deluge last week, and today we’re joined by him to talk about his work. after confirming that we have a mutual friend, we learn how stephen pronounces the title of his novel and how much research went into the deluge. stephen speaks about edits made in the paperback version of the book and whether or not the text is prescient. we discuss levels of cynicism in eco literature, face characters in the novel and how to invest in the humanity of every character, and stephen’s thoughts on audiobooks vs. e-books vs. physical books. we talk about the level of optimism found in the ending and how to create compelling characters through whom you convey the novel’s trends. we discuss the idea of adapting the novel and the problems with wikipedia.

stephen’s mini-module

storms of my grandchildren by james hansen

rising: dispatches from the new american shore by elizabeth rush

the work of bill mckibben

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

the deluge by stephen markley

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

we’re winding down our eco module with the deluge by stephen markley: one of our longest books on the pod and arguably our most depressing. we discuss how the narrative reflects a movement toward total chaos and how reading the book at a very strange time (with regards to weather and politics) made it even more impactful. we talk the book’s ambition (and simultaneous lack thereof), markley’s well-understood praise from stephen king, and the various ways the text is written (and what markley is best at). we make our picks for the book’s main character, share some love for shane battier, and make our picks for who we envisioned as the pastor. did markley underestimate the influence/impact of ai? could this be adapted into a chernobyl-style miniseries?

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

the eco module is starting to wind down, but it’s not done yet! today we’re talking about the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi. after checking in with shreds to make sure he’s h.a.g.s.ing (and seeing what he’s been reading this summer), we talk about how he judged this book by its cover (in a good way). we talk about its magical realism and regional folklore, how quickly plastic has ruined the environment (and our bodies), and the surprise reveal/twist at the end of the story. we discuss if there’s an existential coincidence in these books, the beauty of destructive elements of nature, and how truth is sometimes stranger than fiction. shreds pitches slash fiction. we address a youtube comment about the raw shark texts and ravenous fan bases.

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

jeff wood interview (author of the glacier)

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

jeff wood, author of the glacier (which we covered last week), joins the pod to talk about whether or not this book does, in fact, fit into our eco module. we talk about ohio literature, our love of two dollar radio (and how he hooked up with them), and how much work it took to adapt his writing from a screenplay into this novel. we talk about the meaning behind the title, the job of a land surveyor, and terrence malick’s work.

note: jeff’s pick for outro music (“powderfinger” by neil young) was met with such instantaneous copyright claims on both youtube and our podcast hosting platform that we left it out of the episode. instead, once you finish listening to this episode, head here to hear the song.

jeff’s mini-module

the society of the spectacle by guy debord

in the shadow of the silent majorities by jean baudrillard

the administration of fear by paul virilio

the day after (1983 television film) (dir. nicholas meyer)

dead man (1995) (dir. jim jarmusch)

the thin red line (1998) (dir. terrence malick)

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

the glacier by jeff wood

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0000

it’s back-to-back books from two dollar radio in the eco module as today’s book is the glacier by jeff wood. after shreds eviscerates joey to begin the podcast proceedings, we talk about two dollar radio and exploring a single press’s work. we try to parse what the glacier is about and whether being in eco module informs how we interpret its narrative. we talk about the story being intentionally unstuck from time, the writing’s cinematic/screenplay-like structure, and the the final third of the book’s drastic shift. we talk about david lowery’s film a ghost story. we open a bigger than normal mailbag to talk about trigger/content warnings and whether the patreon is real. we briefly discuss megan boyle’s liveblog 2023.

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

fever dream by samanta schweblin

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

our eco module continues with another water-related catastrophe as we discuss fever dream by samanta schweblin. after realizing that we missed an anniversary/milestone (or more than one) and wondering how many books people read in their life, we look back to see what the last book we read in translation was. we then discuss how the title of the novel gives a lot away, how fever dream reads like a horror book, and how the narrative slips through your fingers. shreds talks about carnosaur, we make connections to previous books this module, and we recount fever dreams (or the like) that we’ve had. shreds ask questions about major motion picture challengers (dir. 2024, luca guadagnino). we perform a halfway through the module check-in.

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

deb olin unferth interview (author of barn 8)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

after talking about her novel barn 8 last week, we spoke with deb olin unferth about heist stories, teaching literature, and chickens. after deb dubs joey the frontman of the podcast (a topic that we never circle back on), we ask deb about how she combines disparate genres and her time spent at farms and with chickens. she and shreds share lessons learned from teaching literature as deb professes her love for the novel as an art form. we find out where the idea for barn 8 come from, how she got access to these farms and farmers (and how she won them over with booze), and where the character names came from. deb shares her picks for books you should read.

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

our eco module continues with barn 8 by deb olin unferth as we shift our focus from trees and water toward animal rights. shreds starts the pod like it’s the end of the pod as he explains why this book found itself in the module in this location. we talk about all we need (as a people) for the earth to be okay. we discuss how barn 8 aligns with (and differs from) more traditional heist narratives, and how the story subverts expectations about what these narratives typically include. we talk about barn 8 as a book about (chicken) language and (chicken) religion. we rank our favorite fast food chains. (next week, we talk deb olin unferth about her book, her research process, and much more.)

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

Thu, 30 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman is the next book up in our eco module, and it continues our run of bleak looks at our near-future. we discuss the book’s structure (and its 3-4 main focuses) and how it kind of bails on a bunch of stuff in an interesting way. we talk about the perspective shifts (and whether or not they work), the unique elements that nora offers as a child, and whether or not celebrities are more interesting than “normal” people. shreds compares this novel to kleeman’s other writing as well as to don delillo. we talk about the real-world insanity of buying bottled water. we talk about ozark and how to adapt this novel — and what might get cut.

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

the overstory by richard powers

Thu, 16 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

our eco module continues with the overstory by richard powers, which marks an early high point in the season as it’s one of our favorite books of all-time, and one of the best books we’ve ever read. first, though, we get into some heavy lotto pod lore. then, we dive into the overstory and wonder: is this the ideal version of this module? we talk about the return of literary magic tricks, our favorite characters and storylines, and the villain of the book. shreds shares some recent related (and unrelated) book reviews and then likens filmmakers to comedians. we talk about how to adapt this book (which may already be in the works).

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

Thu, 02 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

we’re kicking off our eco module with land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang — as well as some steve harvey talk. we ask: is this book a bummer? also: is the book pro cigarettes? we discuss the inner conflict of the protagonist, whether or not the novel’s depiction of climate disaster and climate repair is realistic, and the queer freudian love story at the heart of the novel. we talk about sacrificing long-term gain for short-term pleasure and our shared lack of ambition on the pod to try insane foods. joey relates this novel to fight club. we talk about how visual the novel is and how ripe for adaptation it feels.

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

season nine theme and reading list

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

we’ve turned nine (seasons) old, and we’re celebrating by looking up what the ninth anniversary gifts are. (they are weird.) we then explore the next season’s worth of books, featuring another uplifting theme! shreds explains his process for picking books.

reading list for season nine

land of milk and honey by c. pam zhang

the overstory by richard powers

something new under the sun by alexandra kleeman

barn 8 by deb olin unferth

fever dream by samanta schweblin

square wave by mark de silva

the glacier by jeff wood

the man with the compound eyes by wu ming-yi

the deluge by stephen markley

drive your plow over the bones of the dead by olga tokarczuk

david connerley nahm interview (author of ancient oceans of central kentucky)

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

before closing out our kentucky module, we had the pleasure of speaking with david connerley nahm, author of last week’s book, ancient oceans of central kentucky. after learning how to pronounce his name (oops), we ask a kentucky man about justified — and get an ernest p. worrell answer. we learn where david’s love of the mysterious and eerie came from, what he drew on from his life and his childhood while writing ancient oceans, and the specific way he structured, organized, and edited this book. we talk about the end of the novel (with spoilers!). david shares the one thing he’d do differently in publishing the book. we ask if he’d want to believe it was jacob who returned.

reading list for season eight

the vine that ate the south by jd wilkes

ancient oceans of central kentucky by david connerley nahm

first blood by david morrell

ancient oceans of central kentucky by david connerley nahm

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

our kentucky module continues with ancient oceans of central kentucky by david connerley nahm as well as, you guessed it: more kentucky facts. first, though, we explore the twisted mind of matthew vaughn. we then discuss the profound sadness in the book, the best passage in the novel (which we agree upon), and why the ending worked (in spite of being more “plotty” than the rest of the book). shreds does some visual aids that can’t be seen before talking down to joey about being uncultured; joey fires back. we talk about the novel’s connection to j.d. wilkes’ the vine that ate the south and remember ghost stories (sort of) from our own childhoods. we talk about the process of recording audiobooks. (next week, we talk david connerley nahm about his book, his editing process, and much more.)

reading list for season eight

the vine that ate the south by jd wilkes

ancient oceans of central kentucky by david connerley nahm

first blood by david morrell

the vine that ate the south by j.d. wilkes

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0000

you just heard an episode last week, but we’re back with our first episode in months (our time): the vine that ate the south by j.d. wilkes. we catch up on stuff, like how life has been going (busy) and what we’ve been up to (not reading). we talk about the kudzu plant. we explore rural myths, cryptozoology, and more x-files stuff before talking an interesting exploration of a state largely unknown to us. joey shares some kentucky facts. we talk about the types of stories that do (or don’t) get told. shreds finds childhood goals in the story. we discuss the narrative’s (sort of) universality, the flaw with accents in literature, and the characters’ names (and lack thereof). joey reads a portion of the book that basically serves as the how to win the lottery thesis statement.

reading list for season eight

the vine that ate the south by jd wilkes

ancient oceans of central kentucky by david connerley nahm

first blood by david morrell

season eight theme and reading list

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0000

we're once again embracing our lottery and gambling spirit with the eighth season of the pod. we've passed sufjan stevens with this one. the most exciting moment in podcasting returns -- and no, we're not talking about shreds sharing his thoughts on the irish or joey declining to do an impression. instead, we are returning to the deck of cards to determine our fate as we reveal state #3. in doing so, we look up a vine (nature vine, not the extinct video platform) and discuss geography. shreds makes a proposition for these episodes. we encounter an unprecedented turn of events.

reading list for season eight

the vine that ate the south by jd wilkes

ancient oceans of central kentucky by david connerley nahm

first blood by david morrell

ragnarok by walter simonson

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:58:00 -0000

our graphic content module draws to a close with ragnarok by walter simonson. fantasy content is tough for us, which isn’t particularly fair to this book, but we still find things to love and appreciate about it. we talk about what moving away from marvel allows for simonson to do with this book, which segues into a discussion about the future of the mcu. we wonder: does pop culture have space for this type of brutally violent art? (yes.) we perform a post-mortem of this module and talk about media ownership and digital rights. we open the email bag to discuss the difference in reading an ongoing thing (rather than a complete story) and discuss another email about infinite jest. we talk about adam levin’s bubblegum.

prison pit by johnny ryan

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0000

our graphic content module truly lives up to its name (for the first time) as we talk about prison pit by johnny ryan. we talk about whether or not johnny ryan is an edgelord — and if there’s a reason he aims to offend. we talk about the art’s similarity to “kid drawings” (and joey’s regret about the reading experience). shreds shares a perhaps too-thought-out analysis of what prison pit is about. we discuss the (consciously repulsive) type of humor and the book’s similarities to prison movies, as well as johnny ryan’s use of blank space and his ties to looney tunes. shreds channels george costanza. we talk about a combative email.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0000

we’re finally entering the realm of the superhero in our graphic content module with kingdom come by mark waid and alex ross. shreds explains why he sees this as a superman comic but not a batman comic, and joey explains why he felt lost by an apparent lack of context for dc mythology — and why the book would likely work better on a second read. we gush over alex ross’s gorgeous art, wonder why everyone is fascinated with batman being an old man, and debate whether this book is pro-fascism — or simply promoting the idea. joey forgets the premise of superhero alter egos, shreds invents his own superhero, and we talk about how much clark kent loves milk.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0000

the next stop in our graphic content module is asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli. after discussing how this module being defined by medium (rather than content) seems to yield great success, we talk about the singular vision and design and presentation of polyp before reading something from mazzucchelli’s wiki that totally endears him to us even more. we talk about how polyp is reminiscent of understanding comics, the surprisingly sweet moments of growth it has for asterios, and its incredible stylistic choices and flourishes. we explore the freedom of its chapter length (and mazzucchelli’s knowledge of form and when and how to break it) as well as the different audience/crowd for this book — and what that allows mazzucchelli to do.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0000

we’re tackling our first young adult book this module as we’re covering this one summer by mariko tamaki and jillian tamaki. after talking about location-specific friends and family fights on vacation, we dive into the emotionally-fraught story as we tap into our love of media aimed at teen girls. shreds gets passionate about this book and describes about how the tamakis deftly get around the “adults writing child characters” issue. we discuss the joy of the art (and the joy of windy), get angry at people attempting to censor/ban art, and discuss the second-hand fear we have for these girls. we talk about adapting this book (and the character whose casting would make or break the adaptation).

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0000

we’re headed to 1920s harlem on this episode of lottery pod as we talk about bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, and sanford greene. (a fun note: heather antos worked on this book!) we talk about the incredible value of this book’s omnibus, the book’s absolutely gorgeous coloring, and how the story smartly resets for each new third. we discuss the timeliness of the narrative (and the unfortunate fact that it’s always timely) as well as the tough task (executed well in this case) of making something feel both timely and timeless. shreds talks about how this book feels like a dream gig for his childhood self. we admire the book’s many splash panels (including one doing something we hadn’t seen before) and talk about the multiple ways you can read and appreciate and re-appreciate good comic books. we wonder if there could be sequels written and whether it’s possible to adapt this narrative.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

ann nocenti interview (author of the seeds)

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0000

after covering the seeds last week, we are joined by ann nocenti, the book’s author, to talk about hexagons, fake news, and andrei tarkovsky. ann talks about the roots of the journalism in the book, how the novel’s other major themes found their way in, and what changed through the course of the development. she talks about the origin of the ending, shares storytelling advice for young writers, and how she and david aja worked together on the book’s layout and design. ann breaks down the evolution of the art style as the book developed, the book she worked on with david mazzucchelli, and how she and david aja developed the original idea for the seeds. she shares recommendations for other work to read/consume.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0000

our graphic content module continues with the seeds by ann nocenti and david aja and a return to familiar subject matter. first, though, we talk about steven soderbergh for a while. then, we talk about how the seeds reminds us of the private eye, except with aliens and different ideological divides among its characters. we talk about the book’s 90s feel re: aliens and accompanying aesthetics, the thematic appropriateness of the art, and the seemingly optimistic ending. we bring up the oft-discussed eco module. joey asks shreds about a new (to him) book website. we wonder what the “right” speed at which to read and consume and spend with comics may be.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

no longer human by junji ito

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0000

our graphic content season continues with no longer human by junji ito, which marks our first foray into manga. we explore the medium (including our overall unfamiliarity with it, despite its global prominence) and how no longer human‘s original publication specifically targeted adult men (and how this manifests itself in the story). we analyze how the book unknowingly returns to several of our show’s ongoing themes, we discuss the soap opera-esque structure and (intentionally) repetitive style of the narrative, and we wonder if the book presents a bit of a genre fakeout. joey offers up a surprising association for the protagonist. shreds proposes a spinoff podcast.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

marcos martin interview (illustrator of the private eye)

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0000

after covering the private eye last week, our first interview this season comes with the book’s illustrator, marcos martin, as we continue to figure out how to talk about art on the pod. we discuss the way (and the speed at which) marcos works, the machinations of the page layout/format (and the process of adapting it for the physical release), and the idea behind forming panel syndicate and the plan for the book’s original release. we ask marcos about the process of determining what could/would survive the cloudburst, determining the way this book looks, and their views on tech optimism vs. pessimism. marcos tells us how he and brian met and began working together, how he decided when and where to place the credits page, and which piece of art from the book is his favorite. marcos shares his recommendations for related content to read/watch before we form a connection on his wikipedia lie.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0000

our graphic content module continues with the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente, which looks like a “more traditional comic” (read: superhero comic) and feels like a classic noir. we discuss archaic/obsolete tech (including joey’s beloved zune), the book’s unusual layout/format, and whether the story is cynical or optimistic in the way it discusses technology. we talk about the grandfather character as a kind of audience surrogate, the pros/cons of a world without internet, and the book’s violence and most shocking moments. shreds talks about his desire for things to justify why they’re not prose. we explore the idea of journalists acting as cops. we look back at the book’s original release as a “pay what you want” online drop.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

gender queer by maia kobabe

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0000

it’s a surprise bonus episode in our graphic content module as we cover gender queer by maia kobabe, one of the most banned/challenged books this year. the graphic novel memoir covers some serious content, so we open with some absolute nonsense before we dive into our discussion. shreds again gets heated talking about banned books before returning to his favorite topic: the exploration and use of language. we discuss the value and lessons found in the book, what we learned from the text, and the irony of banning books. we talk about the art style in gender queer and how reading it reminds us of 2010s tumblr.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -0000

our graphic content module kicks off in earnest with coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt. after shreds shares a bone he has to pick with joey, we explore lisa hanawalt’s connection to bojack horseman before spending a while complimenting the beautiful art on display and how well it (wordlessly) communicates information. we talk about coyote doggirl‘s ability to both lean into and subvert western tropes, its emotional depth, and its wonderful absurdist humor. shreds shares his one real critique of the book, we talk about the simpsons and voice actors (and draw unfortunate blanks), and make an official request to get more coyote doggirl.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

bitter root by david f. walker, chuck brown, sanford greene

this one summer by mariko tamaki, jillian tamaki

asterios polyp by david mazzucchelli

kingdom come by mark waid, alex ross

prison pit by johnny ryan

ragnarok by walter simonson

understanding comics by scott mccloud + season seven theme and reading list

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0000

we’re kicking off our seventh module with two firsts for the pod: a guest (heather antos) and discussing a book in the intro episode (understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud). after learning about our histories with comics, we spend a while talking about dilbert and scott adams (please read this) as well as our favorite “sunday funnies.” we share love for sam and max, learn about shreds’s childhood as a science-fiction kid, and discuss the current state of comics. shreds gives mccloud a big compliment before we discuss understanding comics and the many lessons it has to impart. we talk about reading comics digitally vs. physically. we share the reading list for the rest of the season (to which heather adds context). shreds compliments joey in a way that immediately requires explanation. heather gives insight into where to start watching star trek and offers recommendations for comics she’s worked on.

reading list for season seven

understanding comics: the invisible art by scott mccloud

coyote doggirl by lisa hanawalt

the private eye by brian k. vaughan, marcos martin, muntsa vicente

no longer human by junji ito

the seeds by ann nocenti, david aja

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

nightbitch by rachel yoder

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0000

our final novel this module with an upcoming adaptation is nightbitch by rachel yoder, which breaks new ground for the podcast, as former host bobby had (briefly) covered this already in a patreon exclusive behind the elsive paywall. (a reminder: don’t subscribe to our patreon. it’s not worth it.) we talk about feeling less qualified to talk about this novel than others in a similar space, rachel yoder’s use of the werewolf metaphor, and the meaning/reason behind a particularly gruesome action in the text. we discuss the target audience for the novel, whether the transformation into nightbitch is metaphorical or literal (and if it matters one way or the other), and the satire on display. tulsa refuses to care about the film mean girls. we discuss the upcoming adaptation of nightbitch (directed by marielle heller and starring amy adams) and debate whether the film will be able to portray the internal machinations at work in the novel.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0000

our un/adaptable module continues with crying in h mart by michelle zauner, which also marks our first foray into nonfiction. joey is joined once again by a guy named gary, who shares a plea from shreds and expresses a hatred for a specific pronunciation of a particular word. we talk about whether or not you need to know a lot about korean food to appreciate this book, lament not having a food/cooking connection with people close to us (which seems very nice), and compare the food in america to the food around the world. joey recalls axe bodyspray. gary dunks on joey (in an unrelated incident). we lose the premise of the discussion, spend a lot of time talking about food, and break down how weird the module is turning out. egg compliments michelle zauner’s reading of the audiobook. we count down to our next state module. gary says goodbye to cormac mccarthy.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

the raw shark texts by steven hall

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0000

the next stop on our un/adaptable module is continues with the raw shark texts by steven hall. joey is joined by a guy named gary, who arrives with special instructions from tulsa… and we need your help! after checking on what macaulay culkin is up to — and taking a brief sidebar to talk about area legend miss cleo — we wonder why there are so many amnesia stories and whether or not naming a character scout is a direct or indirect reference to to kill a mockingbird. we talk about the novels’ conceptual shark and the concrete poetry on display, and we discuss whether or not it’s truly unadaptable. (spoiler: probably not.) we examine the benefit of not saving the “twist” for the end of the story and talk about the “un-chapters” that steven hall wrote. joey once again references the fast and the furious. we shout out friend of the pod megan boyle and LIVEBLOG 2023. the honorable judge matt erdely returns to judge a book by its cover. egg reveals her egg bias in an email. we try to make monopoly into a british game.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

project hail mary by andy weir

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0000

our un/adaptable module continues with project hail mary by andy weir, soon to be a major motion picture from lord/miller starring ryan gosling. (if you’re a fan of this book, here’s an apology in advance. “sorry, dorks!”) we talk about the similarities between project hail mary and the martian, the coincidence of covering another amnesia book this module, and how rocky (and, by extension, the buddy cop angle) is the mvp of this story. we unveil a new soundboard sound effect, incorporate the svedka robot into project hail mary, and wonder how the lord and miller aesthetic (and ryan gosling as the lead) will work in the adaptation. we also cast andy serkis in the wolf of wall street, share the moments where we each thought “there can’t be 400 more pages of this,” and wonder whether project hail mary is cynical or simply optimistic in an unreal way. we react to a recent viral tweet, explain why the twist is a good idea that doesn’t really work, and whether bad books generally make for good movies. shreds goes nuts. joey spoils the video game version of the last of us. shreds exposes joey for the pervert he is.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0000

our un/adaptable module continues with blood and guts in high school by kathy acker, which is difficult to adapt for many reasons. joey kicks things off by explaining how tulsa has changed his brain before we dive into blood and guts in high school to talk about its three distinct sections and its collage style/presentation. we also break down its focuses on the body and language itself, and whether or not it’s meant to be read as autobiography. we praise acker’s ability to write a book in this style and talk about the depiction of men in her work. tulsa gets mad at people on the internet. joey REALLY struggles with charles dickens.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

memory by donald e. westlake

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0000

our un/adaptable module continues with memory by donald e. westlake, which is being adapted by duke johnson. part of the “hard case crime” series, we talk about how memory never quite gets to crime, subverting all expectations of the series. we discuss jarring time jumps, the downer ending, and whether or not the narrative is propulsive. we wonder about “concussion,” learn what moby dick knows about whales, and discuss the beauty of genuine art discovery. we also take guesses about the upcoming film adaptation: will it comment on race? how will it depict amnesia on-screen? how did they come up with such a better title for the film? egg writes in. we look up and tell jokes.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

speedboat by renata adler

Thu, 18 May 2023 04:00:00 -0000

our un/adaptable module continues with speedboat by renata adler, which may be our first truly unadaptable novel this season; we discuss why that’s the case. we also talk about the humor in the novel (and why its meanness works so well), adler’s discussion of the politics of education, and how the novel has a timeless quality. we compare adler’s writing to alice munro and amy hempel and joan didion. joey talks about loving this book and tries to figure out why the first half worked better for him. tulsa once again mentions the book of wall. egg sends a long email. we talk about people laughing in art.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

underworld by don delillo

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

don delillo returns to the podcast (via the written word) as we continue our un/adaptable module with underworld. in spite of us kicking off the “unadaptable” half of this module with this book, it turns out… it’s very adaptable, and may be getting made! oops. anyway. we talk about how underworld is “the delillo fingerprint,” how the narrative’s structure re-prioritizes plot vs. character, and how this compares to other delillo novels. we talk about delillo’s incredible ability to write about sports. we talk about weirdos who spend a lot of money on pez and funko pops and that time tulsa risked his life as a 17-year-old idiot. we also discuss commercializing nuclear war and the meaning and creation of “the great american novel.” we also discuss how to adapt underworld and who we’d cast.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

the zone of interest by martin amis

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

we head back in time to kick off our un/adaptable module with the zone of interest by martin amis. first, though, we stop for a pre-emptive fantasy baseball team check-in before we find an updated cast list for jonathan glazer's adaptation. tulsa takes down goodreads readers and then shares some background on martin amis. we talk about whether or not martin amis is a showoff (but, like, in a good way), wonder how jonathan glazer will adapt this (including rumors we've heard), and try to parse the meaning and intent behind untranslated text. tulsa rails against pacific rim (again?). we push back against criticism that the novel lacks an ending, criticize its structural inconsistency, and make plans to cover the film adaptation. we pitch a new (and much better) ending for the novel.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

season five theme and reading list

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0000

after our briefest module yet, we’re back to unveil the theme and reading list for our next batch of books. before that, though, we plan for either one of us to die and tulsa explains aphantasia. then, we unveil the theme: un/adaptable. (spoilers.) we announce the titles for this module, talk about our cathy cartoon (and this tumblr page), and frame why some of these titles are deemed “unadaptable.” tulsa makes a promise to you, the listener.

reading list for season five

the zone of interest by martin amis

underworld by don delillo

eileen by ottessa moshfegh

speedboat by renata adler

memory by donald westlake

blood and guts in high school by kathy acker

project hail mary by andy weir

the raw shark texts by steven hall

crying in h mart by michelle zauner

wittgenstein’s mistress by david markson

nightbitch by rachel yoder

infinite jest by david foster wallace

a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0000

our louisiana module comes to a close with its third and final book: a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole. before we discuss the book, we learn about tulsa as "a state of mind" and finally unveil why original host bobby left the show. we discuss the interconnectedness to other books this module, whether or not we know any ingatius j. reilly types in real life, and whether it feels more or less new orleans and louisiana than the other books in this module. we wonder whether the new orleans accent truly sounds like a new jersey accent. tulsa offers joey a gross gift. we look ahead to future states, perspectives, and field trips. we share an important real-life food update, discuss "the valve" and dollar hot dog nights, and whine about the terrible kindle experience for this book.

reading list for season four

the moviegoer by walker percy

all the king’s men by robert penn warren

a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole

all the king's men by robert penn warren

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0000

our “suck shit, sufjan stevens” module (#1) continues as we stay in the sticky, humid louisiana weather for all the king’s men by robert penn warren, our first of two pulitzer prize-winning novels in a row. we discuss the parallels you can (easily) draw between willie stark and donald trump, compare the protagonist (and their levels of inaction) of this novel (jack) to the protagonist of our last novel (binx in the moviegoer), and talk about our favorite/least favorite chapters. we talk about its status as another “great american novel,” compare it to other similar works, and lament an overall lack of characters in the story. we talk about david simon, read egg’s email, and wonder whether or not anne “should” love willie. not enough jokes in this write-up, if we’re being honest, but hey — what can you do.

reading list for season four

the moviegoer by walker percy

all the king’s men by robert penn warren

a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole

the moviegoer by walker percy

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0000

we’re kicking off our first “suck shit, sufjan stevens” module by heading down to louisiana for a three-book season, kicking off with the moviegoer by walker percy. after tulsa establishes his obsession with four loko (and joey shares his history adjacent to it), tulsa makes an assertion that he gets wrong and joey surprises tulsa with his reaction to this book. we talk about how the moviegoer kind of swerves (at least based on its title), the role geography plays within the novel, and how it’s a great example of accessing stuff through what it’s not (and how to find love for a region by leaving that region). we explore the novel’s pro-suicide slant and talk about how our modules shape the way we read things. we plan lottery pod field trips and define what a moviegoer is. we also learn that the world has spoken — and it wants more bowel movements.

reading list for season four

the moviegoer by walker percy

all the king’s men by robert penn warren

a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole

season four theme and reading list

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0000

we're embracing our inner lottery and gambling spirit with the fourth season of the pod. (if you don't want to have the theme spoiled, just listen to the episode.) years ago, sufjan stevens vowed to write an album for every u.s. state. he made two then bailed. we plan to outdo him. (thus the season's theme: "suck shit sufjan stevens.") we're unveiling which state will be covered in the (shortened) fourth season of the pod with a bit of gambling, a new mixer and soundboard, and some great foley work.

reading list for season four

the moviegoer by walker percy

all the king’s men by robert penn warren

a confederacy of dunces by john kennedy toole

fake accounts by lauren oyler

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0000

our internet module comes to a close with fake accounts by lauren oyler — and yet another great author instagram handle. we share praise for the title, discuss whether or not fake accounts is satire, and talk about the likeability (or absolute lack thereof) we have for the narrator. we admire the meticulous way with which each sentence is unbelievably crafted, praise lauren oyler for her precise editing ability, and discuss how skills and talent do (or don’t) translate depending on the situation in which they’re used. we also talk about the reversal in the narrative and the way irony is used in both fake accounts and in megan boyle’s liveblog. shreds dunks on joey’s goodreads picture and pries into his dating life. joey (sort of accidentally) picks a perfect passage to read aloud. shreds avers his determination to reclaim certain “negative” words and makes a plea to our saudi arabian listeners.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

aesthetica by allie rowbottom

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0000

our internet module is nearing its end, and today we’re talking about we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets. we talk about the value of reading literature in translation, the weird position that reading novellas puts shreds in, and the current state of social media (and content moderation). we discuss how we had to remove this post reframes long-term exposure to horrific things, how it compares to dave eggers’ the circle, and how it leaves characters’ beliefs open to interpretation. we talk about motormouths and “brand suitability.” the honorable judge matt erdely returns to judge a book by its cover — and to recommend the swashbuckling adventures of cassian andor.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

aesthetica by allie rowbottom

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fake accounts by lauren oyler

neuromancer by william gibson

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0000

our mini sci-fi module (maybe not really a thing) within our broader internet module continues with neuromancer by william gibson. after checking in on our new year’s resolutions (for the second time this module? but first [maybe?] time-appropriate instance) and setting new ones for 2023, we offer a disclaimer for neuromancer superfans. we compare neuromancer to snow crash, talk about ridley scott’s blade runner, and the evolution and cultural osmosis of science fiction narratives and plot elements. we share shreds’s tip to “unlock” the novel, discuss neuromancer as yet another book about language, and america’s concept of futurism. we praise our main man chappie. shreds wonders if he’s “just getting stupider and stupider.” we talk about how to best adapt neuromancer. shreds talks about why the first sentence does a perfect job setting the tone for the entire book. joey tries to link neuromancer to liveblog.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

aesthetica by allie rowbottom

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fake accounts by lauren oyler

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0000

recorded in spooky season, releasing in the most wonderful time of the year (according to that one song), our internet module continues with things have gotten worse since we last spoke and other misfortunes by eric larocca. we talk about the different ways the titular story can be consumed, discuss why the narrative might be set in the year 2000, and lament the lack of variation in its epistolary style. we talk about how framing “things have gotten worse since we last spoke” as an internet story may be unfair to how we read it, then use egg’s email to guide our discussions about “the enchantment” and “you’ll find it’s like that all over.” shreds talks about the mcrib and being “pork drunk.”

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

aesthetica by allie rowbottom

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fake accounts by lauren oyler

allie rowbottom interview (author of aesthetica)

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0000

after covering her work last week, we spoke with allie rowbottom, author of aesthetica and jell-o girls. joey and allie share some memories about her book’s launch party/reading before we talk about the publishing world being separate from this type of content, how allie focused on the deep emotional underpinnings of the characters and the world, and how it’s more than just an “internet novel.” joey delivers another non-question that leads to a compliment before we discuss whether there was more story to tell toward the end, how the novel could be adapted into a three-season tv series, and who would play anna in the adaptation. we talk about a weird thing in allie’s wiki. she shares picks for a mini-module. we discuss the risk of recommending media to other people and give allie an award. we discuss the weirdness inherent in instagram comments sections, @paigeuncaged and @dudesinthedm, and lana del rey.

allie’s mini-module:

body high by jon lindsey

heartbroke and godshot by chelsea bieker

long live the tribe of fatherless girls by t kira madden

a year without a name by cyrus dunham

boys of alabama by genevieve hudson

a cigarette lit backwards and life of the party by tea hacic-vlahovic

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

aesthetica by allie rowbottom

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fake accounts by lauren oyler

aesthetica by allie rowbottom

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0000

the newest episode of lotto pod is also the newest book we’ll cover this season: aesthetica by allie rowbottom. first, some news: shreds is dead; long live tulsa, who shares his thoughts on saying “happy birthday.” we then talk about how the internet has changed over the course of this season, how “the real world” keeps popping up in our conversations, and how phones have changed the ways we socialize. we wonder if surgery will ever become obsolete. tulsa shares the research he did for the episode (and describes some tiktok memes) before he accidentally engages in self-harm, gets vulnerable, and shows his age.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

aesthetica by allie rowbottom

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fake accounts by lauren oyler

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0000

can a dog be twins? our next stop in our internet module is no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood. we talk about how the novel’s content (at least in the first-half) relies on existing (and somewhat inexplicable) scaffolding around internet humor as well as the way that it captures how fast trends happen and how the internet has an ability to change language forever. we compare it to darcie wilder’s literally show me a healthy person and talk about how lockwood’s priestdaddy informs this narrative. we also talk about the “stomach-dropping” moment midway through the novel, how that ties into the internet, and how the overall narrative reminds people there’s more to life than twitter. joey talks about delilah before bob re-affirms a pledge and teaches us all about juridical postulates (?).

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fake accounts by lauren oyler

snow crash by neal stephenson

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0000

we’re headed back in time (?) to go forward in time (maybe?) to the metaverse (definitely) to talk about snow crash by neal stephenson. we talk about science-fiction being an unusual genre for the pod, trying to balance prescience and ingenuity with problematic plot points, and the pros and cons of writing dystopian futures based on current events. bob gets flabbergasted by neal stephenson’s turn toward a dean koontz mainstay, joey stumbles through a plot summary, and bob shares his issue with the ending. we talk about snow crash‘s influence and potential adaptation, the chicken-and-egg nerd interest conundrum of snow crash‘s content, and the importance of getting your narrative’s jargon right. joey shouts out amelia gray. bob finds himself surrounded by nerds.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fake accounts by lauren oyler

17776 by jon bois

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0000

our internet module continues as we talk about 17776 by jon bois. is it a book? what defines a book? we get into it. after shreds kickflip mctwists his way back onto the podcast, we talk about what we love about bois's work and discuss "the ichiro moment." we break down the sci-fi future presented by bois, the work's unusual intersection of science-fiction and sports, and using the internet to tell a story in a way only the internet can tell a story. joey tries to get literate. bob swats him down.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

liveblog by megan boyle

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0000

our internet module continues with our longest book this season (and one of our favorites we’ve covered so far): liveblog by megan boyle. (our interview with megan will drop next week.) this episode begins with a return to everyone’s favorite segment (schedule talk) before we talk about our poor planning re: podcast preparation. we explore the “scaffolding” of liveblog, megan boyle’s bravery (and her trust in her audience), and how relatable so much of this novel is. joey likens liveblog to the avengers. bob has a stretch of saying words in a strange way. we talk about how liveblog simultaneously enforces and unplugs drug stereotypes, whether or not work like this is imitable, and how it (like seemingly every other book we’ve covered) winds up being about language. we praise megan boyle for her ability to recount dreams. “trout : that’s the fish.” joey breaks the podcast’s one rule. egg sends in an email. bob has an idea for a return to liveblog.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

the novelist by jordan castro

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0000

our internet module heads toward another brand new novel as we share (kind of!) conflicting opinions about the novelist by jordan castro. we talk about how castro writes about the process of writing, the multiple jordan castros at play here, and how online life dictates our thoughts and controls our actions. bob lays out his dictates for editing this podcast before (boldly!) defending himself; joey laughs and throws bob out of whack. we decide that this is a gray man podcast now before we head “back to the bathroom!” a triumphant segment returns.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

fernando sdrigotti interview (author of shitstorm)

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

we’re joined by fernando sdrigotti, author of shitstorm, to talk about his writing and how “the algorithm loves a shitstorm.” we find out about the (vastly different) origins of the “novelette,” how the pacing of the writing changed over time, and being on twitter throughout the news events referenced in his writing. we talk about richard dawkins, the need to “do the work” to keep up with social media (and the language therein), and how twitter has evolved over the years. can twitter be saved? how different would shitstorm be if he published it in 2022? does bob know about wagatha christie? we get to the bottom of all of these important questions, learn a great argentinian phrase used when people die, and return to our newest and best segment.

fernando’s mini-module picks:

the twittering machine by richard seymour

in the swarm: digital prospects by byung-chul han

so you’ve been publicly shamed by jon ronson

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

sorry, tipper gore! our internet module continues with shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti, and the google ban is still being upheld. it’s not christmas (yet), but we check in on our new year’s resolutions and talk about (very) short stories before diving into sdrigotti’s novella. we discuss the perceived catharsis of writing this, the novella’s parallels to our reality, and how it investigates the hypocrisies that engage our cycle of anger. we compare shitstorm to books we’ve read (but episodes we haven’t released yet, sorry), try to parse what the final third of the novella means, and break down the focus on feces we’ve found in our narratives. bob brings up milkshake duck and yells “poop” at joey’s alexa.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

liveblog by megan boyle

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

b.r. yeager interview (author of amygdalatropolis)

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

this episode of how to win the lottery starts in media res, which is fancy speak for “in the middle of the action.” (this may be wildly wrong, but we must operate under the assumption that bob’s google ban is still in effect.) we’re joined by b.r. yeager, author of amygdalatropolis, to talk about what “transgressive fiction” means (and if it means anything at all), how to pin down truth in a place where exaggeration and lying is the norm, and the process of writing difficult scenes. we talk about our own experiences with the internet, the temptation to type in links found within amygdalatropolis, and the story behind the edia connole essay that opens this novel. bob pulls a “trick” out of joey’s bag, then bonds with b.r. over death grips and the pronunciation of gif. b.r. picks some books for you to check out next. we talk about the pressure of the “now playing” section on livejournal. bob unveils a new question/segment.

b.r.’s mini-module picks:

the sluts by dennis cooper

the unyielding by gary j. shipley

an ideal for living by eugene thacker

gag reflex by elle nash

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

amygdalatropolis by b.r. yeager

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

our internet season continues with amygdalatropolis by b.r. yeager, which tackles a topic new to literature. (note: this episode has a content warning.) after stumbling over the title (and what an amygdala does), we talk about the literal structure and style of printing books, the act of (once again) reading the internet in print form, and defining the different worlds explored in the narrative. we discuss amygdalatropolis as a transressive novel, the way it captures an 8chan-esque forum, and the hyperreality it dabbles in toward its end. plus, we try to make sense of edia connole’s academic essay that kicks off the book, and what its placement means to the text. bob enacts a google ban and explains why he may have been included in this narrative. egg mixes up her email sign-off.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

darcie wilder interview (author of literally show me a healthy person)

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder is one of our favorite books this season, and today we’re talking to darcie all about it (and a whole lot more). after calling for ducks, newburyport in every port, we talk about darcie’s process to writing, how film school informed her structure, and how rad harmony korine is. darcie’s dog coco stops by as we talk about skunks and armadillos and then praise diners. darcie talks about separating truth from fiction in the writing and what it was like to record the audiobook before outing her self as a fan of the pod (and the books we cover). we talk about what she originally wanted the book to be called, celebrity book clubs, and kendall jenner. darcie recommends some books. we talk about dating profiles and how astrology is wack.

darcie’s mini-module picks:

letters to wendy’s by joe wenderoth

i remember by joe brainard

a crackup at the race riots by harmony korine

pieces for the left hand by j. robert lennon

bright lights, big city by jay mcinerney

body work: the radical power of personal narrative by melissa febos

hill william, crapalachia: a biography of place, and the sarah book by scott mcclanahan

the no hellos diet by sam pink

exalted and bad lawyer: a memoir of law and disorder by anna dorn

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

mount chicago by adam levin (bonus episode)

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

the novelist by jordan castro

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

adam levin interview (author of the instructions and mount chicago)

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

please note: this conversation contains spoilers for both mount chicago and the instructions.

on today’s installment of tips and tricks to win the lottery, we talk to adam levin, author of mount chicago and the instructions. we compare adam levin to adam levine before talking about the literal influence of the adam’s writing (and how it feels like a magic trick) and the inclusion of pop culture in his work. adam schools bobby on charli xcx before they bond over james ellroy and before joey praises bobby in a ramble that doesn’t quite land on a question. adam talks about the intertwining nature of characters and narrators and face characters, how his childhood (and living near the john hughes suburbs) informed his writing, and how to make literature uncomfortable. we talk about bullying, the process of re-reading, and being surprised as a reader (and how rare that becomes). adam crafts a mini-module and shares his favorite delillo and roth novels.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

the novelist by jordan castro

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

mount chicago by adam levin

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

we’re taking a slight detour this module (and returning to the work of adam levin) for a bonus episode about mount chicago. we compare mount chicago to the instructions, rank some birds, and hear why bob hates robert redford. we discuss autobiography as a metafictional trick, the idea of the “face” of a narrative, and finding context in an author’s work. we discuss behaviorism, acid and shitting, and beavers and ducks and alternate reality. joey praises entourage. bob makes a plea to adam levin before explaining his reading process.

adam’s mini-module picks:

europeana: a brief history of the twentieth century by patrik ouredník

magnetic field(s) by ron loewinsohn

inherited disorders: stories, parables & problems by adam ehrlich sachs

the organs of sense by adam ehrlich sachs

how to behave in a crowd by camille bordas

ghost engine by christian tebordo

the apology by christian tebordo

the divers’ game by jesse ball

autoportrait by jesse ball

autoportrait by edouard leve

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

katie runde interview (author of the shore)

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

we continued our season about the internet last week with katie runde’s the shore, and today we’re talking to katie about the jersey shore, boardwalk games, and catfishing your mom. we talk about how to avoid writing misery porn, different generations of internet, and the types of deception the characters in the shore embody. katie talks about how her life experiences (and tech advancements) shifted the narrative as she wrote the book. we talk about mount airy lodge. joey demands a favor.

katie’s mini-module picks, themed around the shore:

we are not ourselves by matthew thomas

goodbye vitamin by rachel khong

the swimmers by julie otsuka

smacked by eilene zimmerman

rock the boat by beck dorey-stein

the girl’s guide to hunting and fishing by melissa bank

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

the shore by katie runde

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0000

our internet module continues as we seek community in online forums and talk about the shore by katie runde. after struggling with scheduling details that no one needs to know or care about, we talk about the epistolary nature of the shore (and the timeless quality of that). bob does a terrible james joyce impression and we talk about the american sniper, chris kyle. we discuss the ethics of our online existence, whether the end punts on the hard stuff (and if it matters), and how closely the novel reflects shore life.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

beth morgan interview (author of a touch of jen)

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0000

we kicked off our third season with a touch of jen by beth morgan, and today we’re talking to beth about her novel. we find out what she thinks of the internet, her thoughts on the novel’s specific time and place, and how she wanted to subvert the hero’s journey. bobby and beth talk about exclamation points before she psychoanalyzes him for receiving this book as a gift. beth discusses the movies that shaped the way she wrote the novel, joey brings up nicolas cage with bangs, and bobby is happy to accept “no” for an answer. beth talks about getting frustrated about the possibilities on this plane of existence.

a touch of jen by beth morgan

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0000

we're kicking off our season about the internet with a touch of jen by beth morgan. we start by naming famous remys, wondering who the titular "jen" is, and work through a loud groan coming from outside joey's house. we talk about despising remy (yet relating to him), being caught off guard by the novel's unexpected twists, and trying to make sense of the novel's third act. joey talks about why he loved it (spoilers!) and bobby compliments beth morgan on her use the exclamation point (and her ability to adapt internet conversations into the novel). we talk about how season three of our podcast is different from the first two. joey embarrasses bob. a new emailer appears.

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

season three theme and reading list

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

we're logging onto the internet for season three of how to win the lottery. all of our books prominently feature the internet and online life. find the full reading list below, and email in your thoughts about any of these books to lottery@cageclub.me. as always, keep reading, and -- like bobby says -- "get off the internet."

reading list for season three

a touch of jen by beth morgan

the shore by katie runde

literally show me a healthy person by darcie wilder

17776 by jon bois

snow crash by neal stephenson

no one is talking about this by patricia lockwood

amygdalatropolis by b r yeager

shitstorm by fernando sdrigotti

things have gotten worse since we last spoke by eric larocca

liveblog by megan boyle

neuromancer by william gibson

fake accounts by lauren oyler

we had to remove this post by hanna bervoets

bud smith interview (author of teenager)

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

we’re following up last week’s episode on teenager by bud smith by talking to bud about his work (and his friendship with bobby). we talk about new jersey, bud rejecting bobby’s criticisms of a previous draft of teenager, and bud’s process of re-writing (and re-typing) his novel. bud shares thoughts on writing to keep yourself interested (and surprised), lessons learned from teaching writing, and working with his wife rae buleri on the novel’s art. we all struggle to pronounce a word. bud shares picks for his mini-module:

don quixote by miguel de cervantes saavedra

norwood by charles portis

lonesome dove by larry mcmurtry

short letter, long farewell by peter handke

fair play by tove jansson

to the lighthouse by virginia woolf

teenager by bud smith

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

our campus season (officially) wraps up with teenager by bud smith, which follows the first how to win the lottery field trip. after serge gainsbourg drops by, we talk about elvis, the “lovers on the run” template, and how the book dissects american systems failing people. we talk about the novel’s underlying darkness, its cinematic nature, and how it demystifies grand american myths. our podcast finds a new villain, we imagine teenager as a movie (and a video game), and we talk about “famous cuck ned carson.”

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

either/or by elif batuman, 6/2

teenager by bud smith, 6/16

either/or by elif batuman

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

campus season continues with either/or, our second elif batuman novel in a row, and this time, we’re following selin’s sophomore year at harvard. we talk about how selin’s story is an unusual (in a good way!) type of book series and how these novels manage to capture the american experience of late adolescence. we talk about noticeable growth within selin, debate her level of agency in the story, and talk about how much she reads — and how it influences her. we also talk about the novel’s darkness, its “boy crazy” section, and how it seems to divorce kierkegaard from religion. do we live ethical or aesthetic lives? how will selin grow in a third novel?

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

either/or by elif batuman, 6/2

teenager by bud smith, 6/16

the idiot by elif batuman

Thu, 19 May 2022 04:00:00 -0000

surprise! the idiot by elif batuman is no longer our season finale, as she wrote another book about selin that we'll cover next episode: either/or. today, though, we're kicking things off with the (presumed?) start of a series as we discuss autofiction, bob's embrace of "boring" as a theme, and yet another book about language (including, finally, math as a language!). we note the importance of it being set in the 1990s, appreciate yet another narrator native to new jersey, and talk about how terrible ivan is. we admire the book's humor and discuss its feelings of isolation and its near-total lack of politics. bob mentions the book of wall, mankind's great unpublished piece of art. joey confuses the belushi brothers.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

either/or by elif batuman, 6/2

teenager by bud smith, 6/16

the instructions by adam levin

Thu, 05 May 2022 04:00:00 -0000

in spite of this episode about the instructions by adam levin being our longest episode to date (by far!), it still feels woefully incomplete. how do you sum up more than 1,000 pages? it turns out… it’s very difficult! there are backroom deliberations about a second episode about the instructions, but for now…

we talk about our youngest protagonists so far, yet ones who speak and act and seem like adults. we look at the role the parents play in the novel, ways to read (or interpret) this novel, and the “almost literal magic” that bob finds in the text. we talk about the novel’s humor, violence, villainy, and sadness. we also wonder: is gurion the messiah? does the violence go too far? is this the best book of the 21st century?

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

real life by brandon taylor

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

real life by brandon taylor continues our journey through the campus semester of our podcast and marks our most recent release in this module. after another seamless opening to the podcast, we dive into the “largely autobiographical” novel and discuss how how quickly brandon taylor wrote it (which bob likens to “a guy puking, in the best way”). we compare the novel to the works of bret easton ellis and edward albee and admire taylor’s descriptions of science and tennis. we talk about the novel’s take on racism, homophobia, and misogyny. joey stumbles in recalling an ambrose bierce story (“the coup de grace,” which you can read here). we discuss the classic tv programs “baggage” and “elimidate.” bob describes how he picks books for the show. we take a ride in a time machine to cast an adaptation.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

college novel by blake middleton (+ author interview)

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

campus season continues with college novel by blake middleton, and today’s episode includes our first-ever author interview! we welcome in blake at the top of the show, where he immediately roasts bob and sets a great tone for the interview. bob then tries to re-establish his tough guy (and jacksonville) bona fides before we talk about jag lites and florida man. we ask blake about the time and place and era and feeling that the novel takes place in, as well as jeb! and zach braff. blake talks about learning to bartend (and joey suggests he watch cocktail, which bob does not agree to) before blake gives us the “middleton mini module” of books he’d recommend. he also shares his troubles in daytona beach and we all bemoan the death of the cinematic romcom.

after we say goodbye to blake, we talk about the “flat style” of mid-2010s alt-lit, compare it to fleur jaeggy’s sweet days of discipline, and reflect on the variation of campus stories this semester. we talk about movies to pair this episode with, the relatability of the characters, and just how flat-out funny the novel is. bob has an issue coming up with new crimes.

the middleton mini module: everything is totally fine by zac smith, venice by t.j. larkey, hehehehe by g.g. roland, imbibe! by david wondrich.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0000

campus season continues with sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, our shortest book covered on the podcast so far. after a brief spin-off to “how to score some pottery,” we catch up with shreds and see where reading ranks in his favorite pastimes. we explore some surprising (?) facts about the author and history of the book, talk about goodreads’ description of this as “witchy,” and discuss reading books in translation and whether not the language is “stilted.” bob talks about prose style. we talk about the absence of conflict (and how this plays out in both movies and books), we note an ongoing trend seen throughout this season, and we wonder what we could pair with this for the patreon.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

devil house by john darnielle

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0000

we’ve got a new release bonus episode coming at you today as we take on the novel devil house by john darnielle. we talk about darnielle’s place in shape and form of our podcast (as well as how his books are of a type), as well as how devil house asks for an uncommon type of empathy. we examine the novel as a takedown of true crime (and rubbernecking?), wonder who the “real” victims are in true crime cases, and explore our collective need for narrative closure. we take true crime filmmakers to task for being irresponsible. joey re-establishes himself as someone who gets everything wrong about nerds.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the secret history by donna tartt

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0000

the secret history by donna tartt is a seminal campus novel and the subject of today’s episode. it’s a book we’ve both read before, and likely the best book (so far) this season. after a chaotic kitten interlude, we dive into the trouble history of adapting this novel (featuring car accidents both real and imagined) and explore the impact of bennington college’s writers. bob talks through an idea for an elaborate netflix series. we both share our wildly different casting ideas. bob explains how the secret history is “marxism all the way down” and has a foot in genre literature. we pay respect to one of the all-time greats (judy poovey). we relate to richard’s time spent in a freezing warehouse. we make a plea to our patrons, both current and future.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

loner by teddy wayne

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

bob wasn’t available for this episode so joey and “shred” (or “shreds”) do their best in his absence to cover loner by teddy wayne. we discuss following an unlikeable narrator in david federman (and compare him to bruce bennett-jones of the virgins) in a surprise (?) thriller this season. we compare it to the netflix series “you.” we shout out chris christie and talk about lessons learned from american pie. shreds shares a fun fact about reddit, then leads an interlude while joey takes a kitten break. egg outs herself as a nerd in the mailbag segment.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

end zone by don delillo

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

the stadium lights are on this week as we talk about football, warfare, and language in all things in end zone by don delillo. it’s another book we’ve both read, and maybe joey’s favorite book (!). we talk about the narrative’s lack of antagonism and end zone as a “hangout book.” we discuss the mysticism of taft robinson and how discussing the erasure of language makes you wake up to the things that matter. we wonder about the weird ending. bob compares myna to emily ratajkowski and tells stories about infuriating science professors. we also wonder: is this adaptable?

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

giles goat-boy by john barth

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

our campus season continues with the most abstract interpretation of a campus yet in giles goat-boy by john barth, which is joey's least favorite book he's ever read. we talk about the post-modern structure of the narrative, wonder what it's satirizing, and try to parse the meaning of its metaphors. we also talk about how bob totally goofed on the scheduling of this book in our season, the literal process of getting through harder literature, and what "passed" and "flunked" really mean. bob has an idea for tattoos for us to get. we find silver linings in giles goat-boy. bob spoils speed racer. we unveil our new year's resolutions.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

my education by susan choi

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

the campus season (real missed opportunity for #sponcon by not calling it the education season) continues with my education by susan choi. it’s the second book this season bob hasn’t read, and we’re noticing a troubling pattern beginning to emerge. we talk about bob’s issues with cool people from the early 90s, how this book could also fit into our omnipresent “horny” module, and put an abrupt end to our newest segment. we also talk about a the continuing lack of predatorial descriptions in “taboo” relationships we’ve seen this season, choi’s decision to skip over interesting moments via time jumps, and my education‘s confounding third act.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the virgins by pamela erens

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

the virgins by pamela erens marks new ground for the podcast: it’s the first book we’ve both read before. does that mean we’ll have more insightful thoughts to share? don’t bet on it! after talking about our new year’s resolutions, bob talks about the movie it’s complicated for a while before we regret not using this book as a backdoor pilot for our inevitable “horny” module. we wonder if there’s a sex move called “the mandalorian,” we lay out how the novel would end if it were a mystery, and we compare bruce bennett-jones to dennis reynolds. bob shares his one issue with the book (as well as the unbelievability of the in-class scene in the text) and we explore the recurring themes we’re beginning to notice this season.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the nickel boys by colson whitehead

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

season two continues onward as we head back in time (for a difficult read) as we talk about the nickel boys by colson whitehead. we talk about the benefits of re-reading books (especially when they contain genre-style twists unusual in a narrative like this), the overly trusting nature of the main character, and how the nickel boys contains all the elements of a traditional prison narrative. we also explore colson whitehead’s work and what it means when black americans do everything “right” (and yet it doesn’t matter) and then talk about tim heidecker for a little while.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the art of fielding by chad harbach

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

we're headed out to the baseball diamond for today's episode of how to win the lottery as we talk about the art of fielding by chad harbach. after bobby shares a big announcement he should have saved for our patreon, we talk about harbach's ability to capture the beauty of baseball and write a book about predation without really writing a book about predation. we also try to figure out who the main character is in the art of fielding (a question compounded by a bold move that the book makes) and talk about the terrifying nature of an inciting incident in the narrative. then, we welcome in the honorable judge matt erdely to judge a book by its cover (and to get a world series preview for a matchup that will have concluded long before this episode is released) before bobby talks about his "unbelievably handsome man" of a teacher as we try to cast guert affenlight.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

prep by curtis sittenfeld

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0000

we continue our campus season with prep by curtis sittenfeld, the first book on the pod that’s new to bobby. we talk about its spanning breadth (in a relatively tight package), lee as a reluctant and naive narrator, and our the novel’s lack of narrative darkness. we also talk about how unsexy prep is (and whether that’s good or bad), who high school books are actually written for, and the elements of class and race contained in the novel. also: bobby absolutely refuses to do the one job he’s been tasked with (but continues to relate everything to the o.c.) and we unveil both our wiki-based plan for world podcast domination and the secret tagline we’ve always had for the show.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

the bell jar by sylvia plath

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0000

we're kicking off the second season (campus-themed!) of how to win the lottery with sylvia plath's classic novel the bell jar. (content warning: this book and this discussion contain references to suicide and suicidal thoughts.) we talk about the relatability of the protagonist, even 60 years later, and how the story (and its characters and societal issues) are largely timeless. we also discuss parallels to the catcher in the rye (as well as possible reasons as to why that book is taught in schools and the bell jar is largely not) before bob lists the men he's sexually attracted to and sniffs out some nonsense numerology. also: we have (our first?) on-air fight.

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

season two theme and reading list

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

we’re going back to school for season two of how to win the lottery. all of our books are campus or varsity novels. find the full reading list below, and email in your thoughts about any of these books to lottery@cageclub.me. keep reading! (joey writes these so he can say this without fear of retribution or anger from bob.)

reading list for season two

the bell jar by sylvia plath, 11/4

prep by curtis sittenfeld, 11/18

the art of fielding by chad harbach, 12/2

nickel boys by colson whitehead, 12/16

the virgins by pamela erens, 12/30

my education by susan choi, 1/13

giles goat-boy by john barth, 1/27

end zone by don delillo, 2/10

loner by teddy wayne, 2/24

the secret history by donna tartt, 3/10

sweet days of discipline by fleur jaeggy, 3/24

college novel by blake middleton, 4/7

real life by brandon taylor, 4/21

the instructions by adam levin, 5/5

the idiot by elif batuman, 5/19

never let me go by kazuo ishiguro

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

we close out our first season -- on processing pain, the ways we've hurt people, and how we've been hurt -- with kazuo ishiguro's never let me go, and we wonder: just how depressing has this season been, really? we talk about the book's lack of irony (and the reasoning behind it), its understated major reveals, and the two things the book is "really" about. we also talk about how never let me go is basically caddyshack and wonder whether or not ruth gets redeemed before bob reveals his death bed plan.

reading list for season one

death in her hands by ottessa moshfegh, 6/3

pizza girl by jean kyoung frazier, 6/17

you shall know our velocity by dave eggers, 7/1

memories of my father watching tv by curtis white, 7/15

a prayer for owen meany by john irving, 7/29

colorless tsukuru tazaki by haruki murakami, 8/12

any man by amber tamblyn, 8/26

ducks, newburyport by lucy ellmann, 9/9

open city by teju cole, 9/23

never let me go by kazuo ishiguro, 10/7

open city by teju cole

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0000

we’re nearing the end of the first season of the podcast, and with open city by teju cole, we’ve reached out first real widespread difference of opinion. open city was a polarizing book when bob taught it in his classes, and it leads to a discussion here around the influences of guy debord, the anti-identity of the protagonist, the discrepancy on display between high and low culture, and what a movie adaptation of this book would look like if it starred mr. bean. we then call the honorable judge matt erdely for his ruling on the cover before joey has to defend himself against the mounting pressures of being replaced on the show.

reading list for season one

death in her hands by ottessa moshfegh, 6/3

pizza girl by jean kyoung frazier, 6/17

you shall know our velocity by dave eggers, 7/1

memories of my father watching tv by curtis white, 7/15

a prayer for owen meany by john irving, 7/29

colorless tsukuru tazaki by haruki murakami, 8/12

any man by amber tamblyn, 8/26

ducks, newburyport by lucy ellmann, 9/9

open city by teju cole, 9/23

never let me go by kazuo ishiguro, 10/7

ducks, newburyport by lucy ellmann

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0000

the fact that we’ve been building to ducks, newburyport by lucy ellmann all season long, the fact that it’s more than 1,000 pages long, the fact that this is the end of this poor imitation of the book’s writing style. this episode, we’re talking about the longest book we’re covering in our first season — ducks, newburyport — and how it encompasses nearly every facet of modern life. we discuss the meaning of the cougar, whether or not the ending feels too much “like a novel,” and what the book’s form and style contribute to its meaning. bob talks about the o.c. a lot and the honorable judge matt erdely comes to judge a book by its cover — and hand down his first official ruling.

reading list for season one

death in her hands by ottessa moshfegh, 6/3

pizza girl by jean kyoung frazier, 6/17

you shall know our velocity by dave eggers, 7/1

memories of my father watching tv by curtis white, 7/15

a prayer for owen meany by john irving, 7/29

colorless tsukuru tazaki by haruki murakami, 8/12

any man by amber tamblyn, 8/26

ducks, newburyport by lucy ellmann, 9/9

open city by teju cole, 9/23

never let me go by kazuo ishiguro, 10/7

any man by amber tamblyn

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

every book in the first season of how to win the lottery has dealt with heavy themes, but any man by amber tamblyn may be the heaviest one yet. in this episode, we talk about the target audience for the book, amber tamblyn’s style and background as a writer, and the way she’s able to create empathy for all of the characters, even the unlikeable ones. we welcome a new judge in the chambers in what’s sure to be everyone’s favorite installment of judge a book by its cover with the honorable judge matt erdely, then talk about how we’re going to balance out this season’s themes next season.

reading list for season one

death in her hands by ottessa moshfegh, 6/3

pizza girl by jean kyoung frazier, 6/17

you shall know our velocity by dave eggers, 7/1

memories of my father watching tv by curtis white, 7/15

a prayer for owen meany by john irving, 7/29

colorless tsukuru tazaki by haruki murakami, 8/12

any man by amber tamblyn, 8/26

ducks, newburyport by lucy ellmann, 9/9

open city by teju cole, 9/23

never let me go by kazuo ishiguro, 10/7

colorless tsukuru tazaki and his years of pilgrimage by haruki murakami

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

haruki murakami is possibly the most successful and most well-known author we'll cover this season, and our sixth stop on our book club world tour dives into his novel colorless tsukuru tazaki and his years of pilgrimage. we talk about murakami's style, the supernatural elements in the story (and why murakami doesn't take them far enough, and the annoying and frustrating reality of authors making their lead characters boring. we also vent frustrations about the novel's unfair characterizations based on how the story is told, and whether if murakami deliberately undermines himself in colorless tsukuru tazaki and his years of pilgrimage. also, a return to "judge a book by its cover" with the honorable judge matt erdely. this episode starts very silly and ends very heavy.

reading list for season one

death in her hands by ottessa moshfegh, 6/3

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 01:39:00 -0000

a book club, like oprah’s if oprah were two suburban guys from new jersey, or reese witherspoon’s if reese were two suburban guys from new jersey, except without the engine of fame that those two huge stars provide. but come on: oprah is not going to answer your emails. (trust us, we know.) every two weeks, a new book microscoped and surgeried by benevolent despot joey lewandowski and disgraced college professor bobby fischer... with your help! here's a guarantee: every episode ends with an arrestable crime. will it be something boring like credit card fraud or something sexy like a casino heist? listen to find out.

first full episode will release on thursday, june 3. new episodes every other thursday after that.

reading list for season one

death in her hands by ottessa moshfegh, 6/3
pizza girl by jean kyoung frazier, 6/17
you shall know our velocity by dave eggers, 7/1
memories of my father watching tv by curtis white, 7/15
a prayer for owen meany by john irving, 7/29
colorless tsukuru tazaki by haruki murakami, 8/12
any man by amber tamblyn, 8/26
ducks, newburyport by lucy ellmann, 9/9
open city by teju cole, 9/23
never let me go by kazuo ishiguro, 10/7

email us at lottery@cageclub.me

(music: dark flashes by shane ivers)